Okay, this headline might leave you scratching your head. But the point is that we usually get all hot and bothered looking at pro bikes when the reality is that many of us regular folk are much more likely to end up on a bike such as the one ridden by Master’s Men 50-54 winner Frank Gonzalez (pictured above), because like most of us, Gonzalez is a regular guy with a regular job, a wife and a couple of kids.

Propelling Gonzalez to his come-from-behind victory on Thursday at Valmont Bike Park in Boulder, Colorado, were two bikes. He started the race on a LaPierre HM X-Lite. Then after breaking his saddle on one of the course’s steep downhill sections, he switched to his back-up steed, a Cannondale Optimo. Both rigs are a at least a couple years old, were spec’d with blended SRAM Force/Rival drivetrains, and generally were nothing particularly fancy when measured against the disc-equipped, carbon-wheeled race machines of today.

Gonzalez started on the LaPierre, but switched to his Cannondale after snapping his saddle.

All the credit to Gonzalez then, who despite some significant odds, managed to pull off a national title winning ride. After the race he said he actually rode the broken saddle for two laps because his fourth-row call up had put him so far back at the start of the race he didn’t want to lose time switching bikes.

“I just did a big six-week training block, but when I got called up fourth row I figured it was all for nothing,” said the Helena, Montana resident who works for the state’s department of labor. “On the second steep downhill, I couldn’t get back into my pedals, so I must have put too much weight on my saddle and it just snapped. All that was left were the rails.”

Gonzalez rode those rails until he caught back up to the race leaders, then finally opted to take the bike change. From there he pulled into the lead and eventually crossed the finish line solo, 30 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Craig Cozza.

For a closer look at both of Gonzalez’s bikes, check out the extended photo gallery below. But first here are top 5 results from the rest of Thursday’s action, which included 14 masters races and an appearance by Colorado governor John Hickenlooper, who presented medals at the last four podium presentations.

Racing continues through Sunday, Jan. 12. Friday’s action features two masters categories (men 45-49 and women 30-34), juniors men 9-16, juniors women 9-18, as well as the collegiate team relay.

An avid cyclist, Jason Sumner has been writing about two-wheeled pursuits of all kinds since 1999. He’s covered the Tour de France, the Olympic Games, and dozens of other international cycling events. He also likes to throw himself into the fray, penning first-person accounts of cycling adventures all over the globe. Sumner, who joined the RoadBikeReview.com / Mtbr.com staff in 2013, has also done extensive gear testing and is the author of the cycling guide book "75 Classic Rides: Colorado." When not writing or riding, the native Coloradoan can be found enjoying time with his wife Lisa and daughter Cora.

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